keratoconus – the latest tech at Centre for Sight UK

Last week I was lucky enough to visit Centre for Sight in East Grinstead, Sussex UK, to meet the renowned eye surgeon Mr Sheraz Daya who founded this amazing place. Mr. Daya has invented a series of innovative ophthalmic instruments for use in Corneal Transplantation, Collagen Cross Linking (CXL), Laser refractive Surgery and more recently femtosecond laser cataract surgery. He has devised a new technique called “Trans-lens Hydrodissection” which enables easy removal of the lens during femtosecond laser cataract and lens surgery.The Centre is a pioneer and is recognised by the ophthalmic industry as a centre of excellence and point of reference. Sheraz Daya was recently revealed as the surgeon who restored Katie Piper’s eyesight with stem cell surgery, and has the mission of providing absolutely the best eye care available world-wide.

The Centre is UK’s longest provider of Lasik laser eye surgery surgery. Amongst other major developments in 2004, the Centre, introduced “scalpel free” Intralase femtosecond laser for high precision eye surgery. Similar laser technology is now being used for Cataract surgery and a they are a world pioneer for Victus Femtosecond Laser Surgery with a special event happening May 1st 2013 to showcase this. Sheraz Daya will demonstrate the VICTUS Femtosecond Laser live in 3D for the first time to an audience of business managers from NHS Trusts, providing them with an opportunity to evaluate the technology as a means of NHS patient delivery which would result in saving time.

With the ability to perform virtually bladeless cataract surgery, the VICTUS femtosecond laser is believed to be the single most significant advancement in cataract surgery in the last 40 years. The introduction of the VICTUS femtosecond laser platform further validates the field of laser cataract surgery and will benefit both surgeons and patients. Accuracy during surgery is dramatically improved, reducing significant risk and increasing safety. The speed of the process could result in less wait time for patients in the UK.

Mr Daya showed me around their impressive facilities and I saw the very latest in tech for eye surgery. Centre for Sight has pioneered the use of lasers to perform the procedures Femtosecond Laser DALK which provides surgeons with the ability to make very precise incisions in the cornea and these can be combined in a multitude of ways to enhance penetrating keratoplasty or full thickness graft surgery, and the new Femtosecond PK which you can see here, as presented at the ASCRS.

Also at the recent ASCRS in San Francisco Centre for Sight won two ‘oscars’ as their innovative techniques were recognised. Centre for Sight were the only British winner on the night.